New
New
Year 3

Celebrating seasons: Winter solstice

I can explain how some people mark the Winter Solstice and make some connections with Christmas.

New
New
Year 3

Celebrating seasons: Winter solstice

I can explain how some people mark the Winter Solstice and make some connections with Christmas.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The Winter Solstice is the longest night of the year. It occurs in December.
  2. The festival is ancient. The festival of Christmas was placed at the same point to link to the themes of light.
  3. Many pagans will celebrate the coming of the light at the solstice with festive celebrations.
  4. Some pagans will gather at ancient places, such as Stonehenge, to mark the solstice.

Keywords

  • Winter Solstice - the shortest day of the year and the start of winter in the Northern Hemisphere

  • Pagan - a person who believes in gods and goddesses linked to nature

  • Druid - a wise person or priest who helps lead pagan ceremonies

Common misconception

No one celebrates Winter Solstice anymore.

Pagans today still celebrate Winter Solstice.


To help you plan your year 3 religious education lesson on: Celebrating seasons: Winter solstice, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Draw your classes attention to the fact that it is not only Christians that have carols as special songs that are sung in December. Search the internet for the Winter Solstice Carole and play to the class.
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Equipment

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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4 Questions

Q1.
What do Christians usually remember when they sing carols?
The story of Santa
Correct answer: The birth of Jesus
A snowy winter
Q2.
What do social scientists study?
How to decorate trees.
How to sing carols.
Correct answer: How people live their beliefs.
Q3.
When do some Christians go to church?
Every morning
Only on Mondays
Correct answer: For Easter or Christmas
Q4.
Are all Christmas traditions linked to the nativity?
Correct answer: No, some traditions come from elsewhere
Yes, every tradition comes from the Bible
Yes, they all tell Jesus’ birth story

Assessment exit quiz

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5 Questions

Q1.
What does the word ‘solstice’ mean?
Sun disappears
Moon rises
Correct answer: Sun stands still
Q2.
When does the Winter Solstice happen each year?
End of November
Correct answer: Around 21st December
Start of January
Q3.
What do people celebrate during the Winter Solstice?
Correct answer: The return of light
The longest day
The full moon
Q4.
Do people still celebrate the Winter Solstice today?
No one does anymore
Only on leap years
Correct answer: Some people still do especially pagans
Q5.
People use during Winter Solstice to welcome back the light.
Correct Answer: fire, Fire